Mount Washington Auto Road
United States, north-america
12 km
1,917 m
hard
May-October (road closed in winter to private vehicles)
The Mount Washington Auto Road is a privately owned 12-kilometer toll road climbing to the 1,917-meter summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire's Presidential Range. The summit holds the record for the highest wind speed ever directly measured on the Earth's surface: 372 km/h recorded in April 1934. This extreme weather makes the drive an adventure even on clear summer days.
First opened as a carriage road in 1861, it is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the United States. The road climbs an average grade of 12% with a maximum of 22%, gaining over 1,400 meters in elevation. Above the treeline at roughly 1,200 meters, the road becomes exposed and the alpine zone begins, where weather can change in minutes. On clear days, the summit offers views spanning four states, Quebec, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Where is it?
Mount Washington Auto Road is located in New Hampshire, United States (north-america). Coordinates: 44.2706, -71.3033
Driving Tips
Check the road's weather conditions and opening status before driving up, as it closes in high winds. Use low gear on the descent and do not ride your brakes. The toll includes an audio tour and a "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington" bumper sticker. Consider the guided van tour if steep grades make you nervous.
Road Surface
Paved lower section, gravel upper section, steep grades
Road Details
- Country
- United States
- Continent
- north-america
- Region
- New Hampshire
- Length
- 12 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,917 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Surface
- Paved lower section, gravel upper section, steep grades
- Best Season
- May-October (road closed in winter to private vehicles)
- Coordinates
- 44.2706, -71.3033
Related Roads in north-america
Going-to-the-Sun Road
🇺🇸 United States
Going-to-the-Sun Road is a 80-kilometer mountain road that bisects Glacier National Park in Montana, crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (2,026 m). Completed in 1932 after eleven years of construction, the road is considered one of the most difficult engineering feats in American highway history and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985. It is the only road that crosses the park, threading through some of the most dramatic glacially carved terrain in the Rocky Mountains. The road climbs from the shores of Lake McDonald on the west side through dense cedar-hemlock forests, past tumbling waterfalls, and along narrow ledges carved into near-vertical cliff faces. The Garden Wall section, where the road was cut directly into a sheer cliff, offers heart-stopping views of the valley thousands of feet below. At Logan Pass, alpine meadows explode with wildflowers in July, and mountain goats frequently graze near the visitor center. The eastern descent passes through a more open landscape of glacial lakes and wind-sculpted terrain. Vehicle restrictions apply due to the road's narrow width and tight curves: vehicles over 6.4 meters long or 2.4 meters wide (including mirrors) are prohibited on certain sections. The road is typically open from mid-June to mid-October, with the exact opening date depending on how quickly snowplows can clear the massive snowdrifts that accumulate at higher elevations. A vehicle reservation system has been implemented in recent years to manage the millions of visitors who come to experience what many consider America's most beautiful drive.
Overseas Highway
🇺🇸 United States
The Overseas Highway (US Route 1 through the Florida Keys) is a 182-kilometer causeway connecting mainland Florida to Key West across a chain of tropical islands. Built on the remnants of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad, which was destroyed by a hurricane in 1935, the highway crosses 42 bridges, including the iconic Seven Mile Bridge spanning open ocean between Marathon and the Lower Keys. Driving the Overseas Highway feels like floating on the water, with the turquoise Atlantic Ocean on one side and the calmer waters of the Florida Bay on the other. The route passes through a series of distinct communities, from the sport fishing capital of Islamorada to the bohemian culture of Key West. Along the way, travelers can stop to snorkel coral reefs, visit the historic Bahia Honda State Park, or spot tiny Key deer on Big Pine Key.
Beartooth Highway
🇺🇸 United States
The Beartooth Highway (US Route 212) is a 109-kilometer mountain road connecting Red Lodge, Montana, to Cooke City near Yellowstone National Park's northeast entrance. Climbing to 3,337 meters at Beartooth Pass, it is one of the highest paved roads in the United States. Charles Kuralt famously called it "the most beautiful drive in America." The road ascends through a dramatic landscape of glacially carved valleys, alpine plateaus, and rugged granite peaks. Above the treeline, the scenery opens into vast alpine tundra dotted with wildflowers in summer and snowfields that persist well into July. The highway features 20 major switchbacks and numerous hairpin turns as it climbs nearly 1,500 meters from the valley floor. Wildlife sightings of mountain goats, marmots, and bears are common along the route.
Needles Highway
🇺🇸 United States
Needles Highway (South Dakota Highway 87) is a 22-kilometer route winding through the Black Hills of South Dakota, famous for its impossibly narrow granite tunnels and towering rock spires called "needles." The road was a visionary project completed in 1922 by South Dakota's first state highway engineer, Scovel Johnson, who wanted to create a scenic route rivaling anything in the national parks. The highway features sharp switchbacks, pigtail bridges (spiral overpasses designed to gain elevation in tight spaces), and tunnels so narrow that larger vehicles cannot pass through. The most famous is the Needles Eye Tunnel, a passage carved through solid granite that is just 2.4 meters wide and 3.7 meters tall. The road threads between the Cathedral Spires, dramatic granite formations that have made this area a world-class rock climbing destination. The route connects to Custer State Park, where free-roaming bison herds number around 1,300.